"Tsk tsk tsk."
Damien didn't know what to say about Saber.
Is she foolish, or just stubborn?
Or perhaps, driven by deep emotions, willing to sacrifice everything for those she holds dear.
"You have indeed grown, Saber."
Damien stood up and approached Artoria.
His movement caused the surrounding Kijin to immediately focus, wary of a sudden attack from Saber.
"But is it worth it?"
"Even if you take her from me, she won't live much longer."
Damien thought Saber was unaware of this.
To his surprise, Saber already knew.
And despite knowing, she was still willing to return Irisviel, which improved Damien's impression of her considerably, "Why didn't you just force your way in?"
"With your personality, you're not one to compromise, are you?"
"Because there's no chance of victory."
Saber has her pride, but also her self-awareness.
Damien's power is beyond what she can challenge.
Rashly storming in would, at best, fail and, at worst, turn Damien against her.
What would happen to Irisviel then?
Moreover, Artoria held a faint hope, "I want to request your help to save Irisviel!"
"So that's your plan?"
Not just to save her, but to seek a miracle from me.
"Yes."
Artoria said, "You are a Demon King from another world, surely wielding profound and unfathomable magic."
She had personally experienced the Snow Empress's magic.
If even the Majins under Damien's command could wield such power, what heights must Damien have reached?
"Let's sit down and talk."
Damien sensed Artoria's sincerity.
The girl had not once reached for her scabbard, allowing the Snow Empress to seal it.
Thus, Artoria became like a fish on a chopping board, with no chance to resist.
"Alright."
They left the great hall and entered the room where Irisviel was resting.
Sitting face to face, they began discussing Irisviel's situation.
"First, I want to tell you that I can indeed save her."
"Really?!"
The sudden hope made Saber exclaim aloud.
"Ah, sorry, that was rude."
Suppressing her excitement, the girl asked, "What must I do for you to save her?"
"Let me be clear, I will not betray Kiritsugu. That is my bottom line as a knight."
As expected, the King of Knights remained true to her title.
As Emiya Kiritsugu's Servant, even without Command Spells, even if her Master was a flawed man, she would uphold her knightly code and loyalty.
"I'm not your Master, nor am I that despicable."
Damien waved his hand dismissively, "Besides, if I wanted to deal with Emiya Kiritsugu, I wouldn't need your help."
"That makes sense..."
If she were kept here, Emiya Kiritsugu would effectively lose, so there was no need for her to betray him personally.
"Let's set the cost aside for now."
"Let me explain Irisviel's situation first."
Through recent analysis, Damien had gathered valuable information, including the technique to separate the Lesser Grail from the Greater Grail.
Thus, Damien was not deceiving Artoria.
He could truly save Irisviel.
"First, she is the vessel of the Lesser Grail."
"As Servants continue to fall, the Lesser Grail's mechanism activates, and her consciousness and personality sink into the Greater Grail."
In other words, simply restoring her body or healing it is meaningless.
The key is to separate Irisviel's soul.
"Then, what should we do?"
"It's not difficult."
Damien said, "Complete the Holy Grail ritual, and when the Grail materializes, find her soul and extract it."
"This..."
Truthfully, Artoria didn't understand.
She is no magus and doesn't know how to execute what Damien described.
"Don't worry, I can handle the specifics."
Damien continued, "All we need to do is wait for the Holy Grail to descend."
"You know the conditions for the Grail's appearance, right?"
"Yes."
Artoria replied, "When only two Servants remain, the Holy Grail will manifest."
"Exactly."
Damien said, "So, I need your help with something."
"Find Assassin and eliminate them!"
"What?"
Artoria was stunned, not because she wanted to refuse.
Damien's request posed no burden to her.
Her confusion stemmed from Damien's mention of Assassin and "them."
"Is Assassin still alive?"
She had thought Hassan was long dead.
"Yes."
Damien shared the intelligence on Hassan of the Hundred Faces with Artoria.
"I understand. I'll handle Assassin."
"Good. I'll send the Shadow Guard with you."
Damien was troubled by Assassin's maxed-out concealment ability, "They'll locate them, and you handle the killing."
"I'll deal with Gilgamesh myself."
This way, only Damien, Fran, and Saber would remain.
Though three would be left, the Holy Grail requires the souls of five Servants, a condition already met.
"Honestly, I have no interest in claiming the Holy Grail."
Damien said calmly, "If you want it, I don't mind giving it to you."
"What?"
Now, Artoria couldn't stay seated.
She didn't understand.
Why was Damien helping her so much?
Did he see something in her?
Yet, in Damien's eyes, she saw no trace of lust... only a different kind of desire.
"Are you trying to conquer me, like the King of Conquerors?"
Artoria didn't refuse outright; she fell into thought.
If Damien truly offered her the Holy Grail, submitting to him might not be unacceptable.
To save her kingdom.
Once that wish is fulfilled, she would no longer need to be a king and could live as a true knight, following her principles.
If her new lord was someone like Damien, Artoria wouldn't mind.
"I do have that thought."
Damien admitted, then shook his head, "Unfortunately, the Holy Grail isn't as wonderful as you imagine."
"What do you mean?"
"You think winning the Holy Grail War grants an omnipotent wish-granting machine?"
Damien scoffed, "I never expected anyone to believe such a deception."
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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